NEW YORK  Explosive center Alexei Yashin is remembered in Ottawa mostly for his tangle with management in a bid to have his contract redone.

Now, he can create a new set of memories when he leads the visiting New York Islanders against his former team Wednesday night to start the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Alexei Yashin didn't have the smoothest departure from Ottawa when he was traded to the Islanders. Wednesday, he will face his old team and its fans.

By Ray Stubblebine, Reuters

Senators fans have not forgotten that Yashin's eight years in Ottawa were marred by his decision to sit out the 1999-2000 season, and the booing he is sure to receive will be a loud reminder that nothing is forgiven. His deteriorating relationship with management led to a trade to the Islanders two years ago.

"Some bad things happened," Yashin recalls, "but it's two different things, business and hockey. Fans don't want to be involved in negotiations.

"I'm sure things could have gone much smoother in Ottawa, but it didn't happen. I have no regrets because I guess it was my destiny. Things happened and I'm very happy to be playing hockey again and playing for a team I want to play for."

The Islanders signed Yashin to a 10-year, $87.5 million contract. He made a difference last season when they ended the NHL's longest playoff drought, qualifying for the first time since 1994.

New York extended Toronto to seven games in the opening round of a taut series that created higher expectations for this year. Both Yashin and the Islanders struggled to live up to those.

Yashin floundered so much that, at one point in mid-February, he was dropped to the fourth line. The Islanders held off the archrival New York Rangers for the East's eighth and final playoff berth despite going 5-10-2 in their last 17 games. Their 2-1 win at Carolina in the regular-season finale ended a five-game winless streak.

Yashin ultimately rebounded from his demotion with sizzling play down the stretch. He rattled off 20 points, including 12 goals, in the last 14 games. He finished with a team-high 39 assists and 65 points. His 26 goals were one behind club leader Dave Scatchard.

Yashin's ability to continue to find the net could be pivotal in a series in which he will be the most scrutinized figure.

"It's always a question (of) how long you can stay hot, but most important is if the team scores," he says. "It's not what I personally do. It's what we do together and what kind of chemistry we have."

While Yashin was a 40-goal scorer each of the last two seasons he played in Ottawa, he was criticized for failing to produce a playoff goal as the Senators made quick exits each year.

He helped erase doubts about his ability to step up in postseason by collecting seven points in as many games against Toronto last year. He is eager to follow up on that success and said of the special defensive attention Ottawa is likely to give him, "We'll know in the first game what they want to do and we'll make adjustments."

Around the rinks:

The Carolina Hurricanes' free fall from Stanley Cup finalists to the bottom of the league didn't even land them the top draft pick. The Florida Panthers won the draft lottery Monday for the second year in a row. ... Atlanta Thrashers star Dany Heatley, Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Sean Burke and the Rangers' Anson Carter were among 10 players named to Team Canada for the World Championships in Finland later this month.